Celebrating the dental school’s 130th commencement ceremony

On May 3, the School of Dental Medicine celebrated its 130th Commencement in the Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus. More than 1,200 friends, family, faculty and staff gathered to honor the Class of 2024 during a ceremony that was at once heartfelt, inspiring and overflowing with pride for the graduates.

Educator of the Year recipient Dr. Latifa Bairam, Department of Restorative Dentistry, led the processional bearing the academic mace and provided the opening declaration. University president Satish K. Tripathi gave an address encouraging students to use their expertise for the greater good, putting their UB education to its highest purpose.

Additional remarks were given by Dean Marcelo Araujo, presiding over his first Commencement since becoming the dean of the school in 2023, Dr. Bairam, and Dr. Joseph DeLuca, Dental Alumni Association president. They all shared advice with the graduates that affirmed their extraordinary achievements, contributions to the school and future potential. Dr. Shivam Jauhar, president of the Class of 2024, gave the student address. 

The Commencement address was given by Dr. Christopher Fox, chief executive officer of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and International Association for Dental Research (IADR), who spoke on the future of oral health and technology and the graduates’ vital role in shaping it.

More than 160 graduates celebrated the achievement of their DDS degrees, master’s degrees, advanced certificates and PhDs in oral biology. Among them were four students who completed their DDS this year after earning a master’s degree from the School of Dental Medicine.

Through combined program options and enhanced curriculum tracks, the school’s master’s degree programs offer unique opportunities for students to gain exposure to the DDS curriculum while starting their master’s program and research endeavors. Such non-traditional pathways into dentistry prepare students to maximize their impact as clinician-scientists as they enter the professional workforce, thanks to their strong foundation for viewing clinical challenges through a unique scientific lens.

As the ceremony concluded, the DDS graduates rose to take the dentist’s pledge in unison. As they embraced their responsibility as doctors, they declared their commitment to their patients, community and standards of oral health care for all in attendance to hear.

Relive the moment! Watch the ceremony live stream on YouTube and view the Commencement photo gallery.